Shooters deny NRA link, blast One Nation

Robert Borsak (c) says talking about breaking down NSW gun laws is 'ridiculous and outrageous'.Image: AAP

The NSW Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party has denied it has links with the National Rifle Association while blasting One Nation as a "train wreck".

Shooters MP Robert Borsak said on Friday the party has never received money from the American organisation or any strategic campaign advice.

"We have not been to the NRA ever looking for money," he told reporters in Sydney.

One Nation's ties with the NRA came to light in a two-part documentary by Al Jazeera this week, also broadcast on the ABC, where party representatives were seen talking about the possiblity of getting a $20 million donation to fund their federal election campaign.

"To actually see what's been going on with One Nation, and what a train wreck of a party they are, is unbelievable," Mr Borsak said.

He said seeking money from the NRA and talking about breaking down NSW gun laws is "the most ridiculous and outrageous and almost traitorous thing I think I've ever heard".

"Why would anyone want to in their right mind bring that death and destruction onto the streets of Sydney? I'm flabbergasted," he said.

"I just can't understand it. It's not in our parties, it's not in our community, it's not in anyone's interest to do that."

He called on Mark Latham, who leads One Nation in NSW and looks set to win a seat in the state's upper house, to make it clear he does not want to see a breakdown of firearm legislation in NSW.

During the state election campaign, the Liberal party recruited former prime minister John Howard to appear in an advertisement warning voters the Shooters would put guns into the hands of 10-year-olds.

Mr Borsak was on Friday asked if he wanted to put guns in the hands of 10-year-olds, based on the party's policy to introduce shooting lessons into all public schools.

He replied: "Let's make it high schools. We're talking about 12-year-olds."

Research by the Australia Institute has found Australian pro-gun advocates are spending as much per person on political donations as their powerful counterparts in America.

The National Rifle Association in the US spends far more overall than local equivalents such as the Shooting Industry Foundation Australia.

But the two groups spent a similar amount on political donations per million people in their respective countries, the study commissioned by Gun Control Australia finds.

In the 2018 cycle, the NRA spent $2512 per million US residents, while in 2015/16 - the financial year before the previous Australian election - the SIFA spent $2562 per million Australians.

In total, pro-gun groups and businesses have donated $1.7 million to Australian political parties in the past eight years.

Bob Katter's Australian Party has been the biggest beneficiary, receiving $808,750, followed by the Shooters Party who received $699,834.

The donations and other political campaigns attract little attention because the Australian lobby keeps them low key, the report says.